On the other side of the coin, Jeremiah Washburn – Jim’s son – directs the offensive line. A story currently on the Detroit Free Press’ web site talks about the progress of that unit in which the younger Washburn discusses the progress of new Detroit left tackle Reilly Reiff.

Jim Washburn played at Shelby High and Gardner-Webb. Jeremiah played at Shelby until moving to Arkansas for his senior when his dad joined the Razorbacks’ coaching staff, then enjoyed his own career at Arkansas as a player.

Junior golfer competes

Elliott Grayson, 17, tees off this week at the Optimist International Junior Golf tournament in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

Grayson was the South Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Year this spring for Shelby’s 2A West regional championship squad.

He’s playing in the four-day tournament at the PGA National resort, with rounds being played on the Palmer Course and Champions Course. The Champions course has hosted the PGA Honda Classic the past few years and is home of the famed Bear Trap.

Grayson qualified by winning the Western N.C. Optimist qualifier in June with a score of 73 at the Catawba Country Club in Newton.

Runnin' Bulldog track honors

Gardner-WebbUniversity track & field was rewarded for its success both on the track and in the classroom by earning All-Academic Team designation in the recently released list from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Both Gardner-Webb's men's and women's track & field teams earned a spot on the USTFCCCA's All-Academic list, as both programs posted a cumulative team GPA of at least 3.0 to qualify for the honor.

GWU's women's track & field squad posted a 3.14 team GPA, and was one of only three Big South track & field programs (also HIgh Point, 3.17, and Liberty, 3.19) to earn All-Academic Team status.

On the men's side, the team posted a 3.04 team GPA, earning the USTFCCCA's team honor for the first time since 2008. Like the women, Gardner-Webb's men's track & field team was one of just three Big South teams (also High Point, 3.05, and Liberty, 3.13) to qualify for the national honor.